A probationer known as the “Red-Bearded Robber” was sentenced Monday to 30 years in state prison for committing multiple holdups in Corona, Riverside and surrounding communities.
Aleksandr Olegovich Varlitskiy, 28, of Perris admitted to six counts of armed robbery under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. In exchange, prosecutors dropped 10 related robbery charges.
Superior Court Judge O.G. Magno certified the terms of the plea agreement and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and the defense.
The defendant, who held up people using a handgun from June 12 to Oct. 20 of last year, became known as the “Red-Bearded Robber” because of his distinct reddish-blond facial hair.
No one was shot during the holdups, but Varlitskiy threatened all of the victims with his pistol, according to investigators. He took the victims’ money and whatever other valuables they had.
According to court records, the defendant has prior convictions for grand theft, driving under the influence, and possession of controlled substances.